Who can unify Texas Republicans in the midst of a tough primary battle? How about a former Dallas Cowboys quarterback?

At a luncheon on Nov. 13, Roger Staubach jokingly stated that he was planning a run for governor. Staubach is currently serving as an honorary chairman of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison’s campaign for governor.

But that hasn’t stopped David Smith of the Dallas County Republican Examiner from hoping.

Barbour likes Hutchison where she is

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said that he has talked with Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and he hopes that she remains in the U.S. Senate.

“I would just hate to lose Kay Bailey in the Senate,” Barbour said at a news conference during the RGA’s annual meeting. “She has been a great senator. I would just hate to lose a great senator like that when we have a fine governor.”

Kinky likes Shami, but not THAT much

Despite the entrance of his friend, Houston businessman Farouk Shami, into the governor’s race, Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Kinky Friedman said that he will continue his own campaign.

The two appeared together several times in 2006 and Friedman often referred to Shami as his campaign manager. Friedman and Shami have also sold olive oil together, and the proceeds from the sales went to Israeli and Palestinian children affected by the conflict. Shami was born in Palestine and Friedman is Jewish.

Shami’s spokeswoman Jessica Marie Gutierrez said that Shami believes that Friedman is a “great guy” but lacks the experience necessary to serve as governor.

While he plans to continue his run, Friedman said that if he is elected, he will name Shami as his ambassador to Israel.

A recent UT-Texas Tribune poll showed Friedman ahead of the Democratic field, but the online poll’s accuracy has been disputed. That poll also did not include Shami, who has said he will spend $10 million of his own money in the campaign.

Alvarado likes Casinos

At an event in Ft. Worth, Fort Worth teacher Felix Alvarado said that if he was elected, he would like to build casinos around the state to fund the school system.

Gambling was a hot-button issue during the last legislative session while the state looked for funding to close a budget shortfall.

Alvarado was joined at the event in front of about 120 people at TCU by two other Democrats running for governor, East Texas rancher Hank Gilbert and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan Tom Schieffer. All three used parts of their speeches to criticize Perry and his policies.

Friedman, who was not in attendance, has also said that he supports the establishment of casinos in the state.